Shloka 12

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

कठोरधाम्ने भरणीषु कण्ठं दिवाकरायेत्यभिपूजनीया ग्रीवाग्निऋक्षे ऽधरमम्बुजेशे सम्पूजयेन्नारद रोहिणीषु //

Transliteration

kaṭhoradhāmne bharaṇīṣu kaṇṭhaṃ divākarāyetyabhipūjanīyā grīvāgniṛkṣe 'dharamambujeśe sampūjayennārada rohiṇīṣu //

Translation

In the nakṣatra Bharaṇī, one should duly worship the Lord’s throat, invoking Him as “Kaṭhoradhāman” (He of firm radiance). In the nakṣatra of Agni (Kṛttikā), one should worship the neck; and in Rohiṇī, O Nārada, one should worship the lower lip, calling Him “Ambujeśa” (Lord of the lotus).

Word by Word

• भरणीषु (bharaṇīṣu): in (the nakṣatra) Bharaṇī

• कठोरधाम्ने (kaṭhoradhāmne): to Kaṭhoradhāman, ‘He whose radiance/abode is firm, intense’

• कण्ठम् (kaṇṭham): the throat

• दिवाकराय इति (divākarāyeti): as ‘Divākara’ (Sun-maker / the Sun), thus (to be named)

• अभिपूजनीया (abhipūjanīyā): should be worshipped with due reverence

• ग्रीवा (grīvā): the neck

• अग्निऋक्षे (agniṛkṣe): in Agni’s asterism (Kṛttikā)

• अधरम् (adharam): the lower lip

• अम्बुजेशे (ambujeśe): as ‘Ambujeśa’, Lord of the lotus

• सम्पूजयेत् (sampūjayet): should worship completely/with full rites

• नारद (nārada): O Nārada

• रोहिणीषु (rohiṇīṣu): in (the nakṣatra) Rohiṇī

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (teaching a ritual/iconographic procedure), addressing Nārada (as named in the verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Narada
• Bharani (nakshatra)
• Krittika / Agni (nakshatra)
• Rohini (nakshatra)
• Divakara
• Ambujesha

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Nakshatra
• Ritual Worship
• Aṅga-pūjā

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it teaches a ritual method—nakṣatra-wise worship of specific limbs of the deity with particular divine epithets.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It supports the householder/royal duty of maintaining proper pūjā: aligning worship with calendrical astronomy (nakṣatras) and performing prescribed aṅga-pūjā as part of disciplined daily/periodic religious observance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it encodes an icon-worship protocol: specific body-parts (throat, neck, lower lip) are worshipped under specific nakṣatras with designated names, reflecting the Matsya Purana’s pratima-lakṣaṇa and temple-pūjā sequencing traditions.